The morning sunlight poured through the glass walls of Aurora Group, catching the marble floors in a soft, golden sheen. Alina Ross stepped out of the elevator, heels clicking against the floor, only to notice the subtle shift in the office atmosphere. There were whispers, small glances, and employees pretending to focus on their screens — all of which made her stomach tighten.
Sophie, standing by the coffee machine, grinned knowingly as Alina approached.
"Good morning," Sophie said, voice deceptively cheerful. "Or should I say… trending?"
Alina frowned, narrowing her eyes. "What do you mean?"
"You know," Sophie said with a smirk, handing her a cup of coffee. "The rumor from yesterday. The one about you and Vale."
Alina groaned. "I swear, if anyone even dares to—"
"Relax," Sophie interrupted, placing a hand on her shoulder. "It's harmless. Sort of. It's… entertaining."
Alina rolled her eyes, muttering, "Not for me."
As she walked toward her desk, she could feel the subtle, curious glances of her colleagues. It was infuriating. But more than that, it was… distracting.
---
Adrian's Entrance
Across the hall at Vale Enterprises, Adrian Vale arrived, briefcase in hand, exuding his usual calm confidence. Liam, his assistant, smirked knowingly.
"Word travels fast," Liam said. "Apparently, you're the hottest gossip in Aurora this morning."
Adrian's lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "Is that so?"
"Yes," Liam replied, chuckling. "You're either enjoying this too much, or you've completely lost control over it."
"Not enjoying it," Adrian said smoothly, adjusting his cufflinks. "Just… observing human behavior. It's fascinating."
Liam rolled his eyes, knowing full well his boss was lying.
---
Morning Briefing Tension
By mid-morning, both Alina and Adrian found themselves in the joint project meeting, facing each other across the long conference table. The tension was palpable — employees whispered under their breath, stolen glances and subtle nudges barely contained.
Alina tried to focus on her notes, but Adrian's calm, calculating presence made her pulse quicken. Every glance he cast, every subtle tilt of his head, felt deliberate.
"You seem distracted this morning," Adrian said lightly, voice calm, measured.
"I am not," she snapped, though her fingers trembled slightly.
He raised an eyebrow. "Of course not."
Sophie, sitting at the side, whispered to Liam, "He's having fun. She's… not."
Liam grinned. "They're perfect for each other, aren't they?"
Alina, overhearing none of this, bit her lip. She refused to let him see how flustered she was.
---
Project Discussions and Flutters
The meeting stretched into an hour of detailed project discussions. Alina presented her strategies confidently, but every suggestion Adrian made countered her arguments with precision. Each counterpoint forced her to think faster, respond sharper — a verbal duel that left her both exhilarated and frustrated.
At one point, Adrian leaned slightly closer to point out a minor inconsistency in a chart. Their hands brushed as he passed her a printout. Alina's chest tightened, and she quickly pulled her hand back, scowling.
"You're unusually sensitive today," Adrian remarked softly, a teasing edge in his voice.
"I am not sensitive," she replied, though her cheeks betrayed her.
He smirked faintly. "Sure. Whatever you say, Ms. Ross."
Sophie, trying to stifle a laugh, muttered under her breath to Liam, "It's working. Every time he does that, she melts a little inside."
Liam nodded. "Every. Single. Time."
---
Assistant Commentary
During a brief break, Sophie leaned toward Alina. "You know, you could save yourself a lot of stress if you admitted you… like him a little."
Alina froze. "I do not."
Sophie smirked, handing her a fresh cup of coffee. "Sure. Keep telling yourself that while everyone else in the office has already shipped you."
Meanwhile, across town, Liam whispered to Adrian, "You're driving her crazy, sir. She's flustered, and she doesn't even know why."
"I think she knows perfectly well," Adrian said softly, adjusting his tie. "She just refuses to admit it."
---
Accidental Encounters
Later in the day, Alina carried a thick stack of contracts down the hallway. She collided — accidentally, of course — with Adrian, sending papers tumbling across the floor.
"Careful," he said, bending down to help her. Their hands brushed again.
"I said I'm careful," she muttered, retrieving the papers.
"Hmm," he said, holding a file between them, "you seem distracted."
"I'm… not distracted," she replied, straightening her notes.
"Sure," he said, his lips twitching in that familiar, infuriating way. "Distracted is exactly the word."
Her chest thumped, but she refused to let him see it.
---
The Day Continues
By late afternoon, Alina struggled to focus on her work. Every small glance, every subtle smile from Adrian sent her pulse racing. She hated that he had this effect on her — hated that the simple rumors swirling around the office made her think of him more than ever.
Adrian, meanwhile, remained calm, but internally, he was just as aware of the fluttering tension. Every interaction, every accidental touch, every glance was carefully noted, stored away for the quiet moments when the office emptied.
---
Evening Fallout
As the day drew to a close, the office buzz had reached a peak. The rumor had grown — "they're secretly dating" was now floating among whispers and private chats.
Sophie leaned toward Alina. "I told you. Trending topic #1."
Alina groaned, grabbing her bag. "I swear, Sophie, one more comment and you'll sleep on the couch."
"You'd miss me too much," Sophie said with a wink.
Alina turned toward the elevator, muttering under her breath. "I need to get home before I explode."
Adrian, watching from across the hall, allowed himself a faint, satisfied smile. He didn't intervene. He knew this tension was… worth it.
---
Closing Moment
Alina reached the car park, fumbling with her keys, and stopped for a moment to catch her breath. The rumor, the brushes, the small moments with Adrian — it all left her heart racing.
Across the city, Adrian sat in his office, reviewing reports he wasn't really reading. His thoughts drifted to her — the way she had flustered, the sharpness in her voice, and the quiet, unspoken acknowledgment in her eyes that maybe, just maybe, she was thinking of him too.
Enemies? Still.
Not enemies? Perhaps.
Lovers? Not yet.
But something had shifted. And neither of them could deny it.